Page 17 of Falling Madly
“You’re right, aye.” His voice rang with disappointment.
“Were you really considering that?” I laughed, enjoying the bubbly lightness in my belly.
He inhaled deeply and groaned, his hands around my waist, fingers digging into my hip through the towel. I imagined them underneath, slipping a little lower, and held my breath. Every part of me was agreeing now, my insides glowing like hot embers, waiting for him to stoke the fire.
“I was thinking a limo, a hotel room… the office is way down the list. I promised myself I wouldn’t rush this. I don’t wantye to think this is a hook-up. There’s something here, Teresa—something I can’t stop thinking about. You’ve been in my head for weeks, and now… now I can’t think straight. Everything about ye…”
My back arched without any conscious thought, and I let my head drop against his shoulder. I may have moaned. His fingers brushed lower, teasing the edge of my underwear, frustratingly distant through the fabric, like a beautiful song muffled by a wall. I placed my hands on his, guiding them lower. The growl of frustration rising from his throat was my reward.
“Teresa,” he rasped into my ear. “Not here. Not like this.”
Yet he made no effort to extract himself. Instead, his fingers brushed small circles on my lower belly, reaching a little lower each time. My breath hitched, and I tilted my hips to meet his touch.
“Then you better make sure you don’t accidentally slip under my towel.” I lifted the edge of it so that his hand could slide in.
It did. He groaned into my ear like a man torn between his best intentions and desires, and I loved it. My underwear was still wet from the pool, sticking to my skin.
“I thought my panties would dry on me, but I don’t think that’s happening.” I took his hand and inched it to the waistband.
“Oh, God. Teresa. You play dirty.” He sounded breathless, his fingers holding still. Not advancing, not pulling away.
I loved having this effect on him. It was intoxicating, and I would have found a way for us to go on. I would have done something stupid and gloriously enjoyable if it weren’t for the faint beep across the room.
Someone was at the door.
I sprung up from the bench, gathering my clothes, shoes, and clutch. “Where do I go?”
“Showers.” He pointed at the door behind me, looking far more relaxed than I felt.
I ran. To my relief, I found a large bathroom with a lock on the door. I could get dressed and make myself as presentable as possible before re-entering. The hand dryer looked powerful enough to dry my hair.
After fifteen minutes and using every bit of makeup in my clutch, I was looking good enough. I could only pray nobody noticed my hair wasn’t straight anymore. Guys hardly paid attention to that sort of things, I told myself, before stepping out of the bathroom and trailing past the showers and through a spacious changing room.
When I turned the knob on the door leading back to the pool, I heard laughter. Whoever had come in was still there. Multiple people. I recognized Trevor’s baritone chortle in the mix. It was the most distinct laugh I’d ever heard. The infectious kind you couldn’t help but join. He must have been with the other party goers.
I pushed open the door and approached them, hidden by a huge potted palm tree. I recognized Kyle, the guy who Trevor had led me away from and to his left, a dark man with an air of importance. It must have been Crypto-Gavin.
I almost announced myself, but something held me back. I had an opportunity. I was close enough to hear them without being seen. If Gavin really was as horrible as Trevor had made him sound, he’d reveal himself. This was my chance to gather evidence.
Gavin’s voice rang with confidence. “This thing will skyrocket like you’ve never seen. First, we build up the platform, get the gamers hooked, trading tokens, winning big. Then we go fully decentralized and listed. It’s going?—”
“To the moon!” Kyle bellowed.
“No one makes a move until we’re at hundred million market cap. We’ve got big backers on this—you have no idea. You’re gonna look back at this moment and think, shit, that was the seed of my first million. Trust me, nothing beats that feeling.” Gavin sounded both high and drunk, and like a giant douche.
“I’m happy to work on it,” Trevor replied mildly.
“Charlie vouched for you, so you’re in. But we still need a head designer.”
My stomach turned into a ball of fire.
“Well, there’s Boris and Teresa…” Trevor said, his voice careful.
My breath caught, heart pounding.
“The dark one? I bet she’s a firecracker in bed! Girls like that don’t hold back.”
I barfed in my mouth a little but held still. Okay, Trevor was right. The guy was the worst. I’d pack my mace, but I’d also complete the most brilliant, career defining artwork.
